Someone Give Me A Mechanical Engineering Lesson

[hercdoc]

If I install a longer handle on my 5.0:1 crankbait reel, I know that it will give me more leverage, but will the handle increase the speed that I will retrieve the crankbait or does slow it down?  Does my reel become a 5.1:1 or even more than that? I would think that since the distance from the centerline of the handle to the centerline line of the handle knob increased, then my rotations would become slower than with a shorter handle reel and I would have to increase the rate of the handle speed to make the lure run at the same speed as the shorter handle. Does that make sense? Help!!

[uicdent11]

I am not a physicist but I do not think it would change your gear ratio and therefore neither increase or decrease your retrieve. If you turn the hand 1x, it is still going to turn the spool 5.0x's no matter how long the handle is. With that said, if it takes you longer to turn the handle because it is longer (you have to cover a longer circumference) then it would directly affect the speed of retrieval by slowing it down. Basically, with the same hand speed you are going to retrieve slower, but this has no affect on the gear ratio. I hope this helps.

Jon

[Uncle Leo]

No, but the increase of leverage will increase power. Gear ratio will remain the same.

[Calcutta]

Think of it this way, If you are lifting up a object, would it be easier with a 1 foot pry bar or a 10 foot pry bar? The short handle would alow you to reel your self to death but you would go through less motion. The long handle would alow easier turning, just more movement in the 360 deg range. Make sense?

[NBR]

Increase power a bit by the ratio of the distance from the center of the crank to the finger grip. With the same finger speed you will crank a bit slower since your fingers will travel farther to make a revolution.

[Raul]

Two reels that are escencially the same:

Scorpion 1000 Mg, handle length = 70 mm, gear ratio = 6.2:1, IPT = 25"

Chronarch 50 Mg, handle length = 80 mm, gear rato = 6.21, IPT = 25"

If you change the handle for let 's say a 90 mm handle the reel with still pick up 25", what changes is the torque, longer handle = more leverage.

[LAO162]

I think your hand travels further per turn, but there is no change at the spool.